Ian
Walker, Tottenham's 'number 2' goalkeeper has had his request for a
transfer granted! Walker has been sitting on the bench and playing for the
reserves while summer signing Neil Sullivan has been occupying the number
1 spot n Match days at White Hart Lane, and it is no secret to Tottenham
boss George Graham that Ian Walker is unhappy.

Walker has been Tottenham's first choice
goalkeeper since 1994 and in his 13 years at White Hart Lane, Ian has made
over 300 appearances for the Spurs. However, this is not the first time
Walker has been put in the shadows at White Hart Lane. In the dark days of
Christian Gross, Ian was dropped from the side and Norwegian under 21
keeper Espen Baardsen was put in as first choice keeper! But George Graham
took over from Gross and was there to rescue Walker from the subs bench
and put him back in the first team. Walker had played in every match for
Spurs from the 3-1 victory in the league cup against Manchester United in
1998, to the final game of the season against Sunderland in 2000! But
Walkers time at Spurs is surely up now as Number 12 keeper and Scottish
number 1 Neil Sullivan has put in some impressive displays since his
arrival from relegated Wimbledon.

Pleats reaction to Walkers un rest was to
grant his request, "We have reluctantly agreed to his transfer
request from Ian Walker. We understand his frustration at his lack of
first team opportunities at the moment. It's difficult for him but you
have to be patient."

Pleat also referred back to the last time
Walker was left out of the lime light. "This situation was in effect
two seasons ago when Espen Baardsen replaced him but he got back and has
done very well since. Ian's form last year was excellent and by bringing
in Neil Sullivan it increased competition at the club."

League

FAC

FLC

Euro

Season

App

App

App

App

Oxford

1990-91

2

1

Total

2

1

Spurs

1990-91

1

1991-92

18

1

2

1992-93

17

2

1993-94

11

2

1

1994-95

41

6

2

1995-96

38

6

3

1996-97

37

1

4

1997-98

29

1

3

1998-99

25

7

4

1999-00

38

2

2

4

Total

255

25

22

6

Total

257

25

23

6

"We now have two top class goalkeepers
and we are perhaps victims of that situation. In the meantime, Ian will
continue to give total commitment to the club. We will be actively looking
to find a satisfactory replacement."

Southampton have already been linked with a
move for Walker as a replacement for struggling Paul Jones, and Walker
would agree to a move like that, but doubtful whether he would be happy to
drop down a division or two to play regular football, and if Walker is to
continue to find a way back into he England squad, then a move to a club
like Southampton wouldn't boost his chances. Possibly, the best move for
Walker now, would be to stay and fight for his place at Spurs and keep
Neil Sullivan on his toes!

As the stats show on the left, Ian Walker
has made 225 league appearances for Tottenham Hotspur since 1990-91. he
didn't feature regularly until 1994-95 under Ossie Ardiles and then Gerry Francis,
but had previously made 47 league appearances and 8 Domestic and European competition
appearances. But since 1994, Walker has been dropped and replaced by only
Erik Thodsvedt, Espen Baardsen, Hans Segers and Neil Sullivan in the
league for only 24 matches in a total of 232 league matches. Walker was inspirational
in Tottenham's success in the league cup in 1999 playing in all but 3 of
the matches. Last season Walker played in every match in the league and
cup, but is yet t feature this season.

Walker has only ever played for one other
club and that was for Oxford in 1991, but was also loaned out to Ipswich
Town.

Some of Walkers happiest memories in a
Spurs shirt range back to 1991 when he made his Tottenham debut against Norwich
City (away) and then he was also when he was in the squad for the 1991 FA
Cup winning side. In 1993 he helped Spurs over come Peterborough in a penalty
shoot out and in 1999 he won the League Cup at Wembley in a 1-0 victory
over Leicester. While at Tottenham he has also made 3 England full caps, 1
England B cap, 9 Under 21 caps, 5 under 19 and 12 youth caps. He won the
FA Youth cup in 1990 and was also part of the England squad that hosted
Euro 1996, but was left out of the next two squads for France 98' and Holland
/ Belgium 2000!

Although the news of Walker request has
come to a shock to some fans, Walkers departure will be one of great
relief to others. But to Ian Walker, the day he walks out of the exit door
at White Hart Lane, I'm sure he will cry a tear or two and look back at
some of the highs and lows of his time at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club!